TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

ATHERTON, Calif. – The No. 8-ranked Southern Oregon women's wrestling team started its season Sunday at the Menlo Open and saw newcomer Layla Morris make a promising and unbeaten debut.

Morris, a sophomore ranked No. 16 in the NAIA preseason poll, earned the 138-pound title with four consecutive victories. The North Central (Ill.) transfer ended three wins in the first round with technical-fall shutouts and was only pushed in the semifinals, where she took a 10-9 decision from Menlo's Janie Houser.

Six more of the 13 Raiders who made the trip left as placers. The other finalist was No. 12-ranked Myia Weiler, who finished 3-1 at 124 pounds after opening the tournament with a pin and a tech.

Freshmen Sarah Hammond (103) and Skyler Hall (124), making their collegiate debuts, both placed third. Hammond was 2-1 with a pair of pins before meeting teammate Michaela Sarmiento in her third-place bout and accepting a friendly default. Hall lost only to Weiler in the semifinals but won four other matches and earned bonus points in three of them.

Sarmiento settled for fourth place. Estella Gutches (124) and Vida Boskovic (160) both got sixth.

The Raiders open their dual schedule next, visiting Hope International (Calif.) on Nov. 20 and going to the Westcliff Duals on Nov. 21.

COMPLETE SOU PLACES
1st place – Layla Morris (138)
2nd place – Myia Weiler (124)
3rd place – Sarah Hammond (103), Skyler Hall (124)
4th place – Michaela Sarmiento (103)
6th place – Estella Gutches (124), Vida Boskovic (160)
No place – Lia Ferreira (103), Caroline Farris (117), Nevaeh Arthun (131), Sienna Holscher (131), Sabrina Sifuentez (145), Emily Bellant (180)